LAUNCH OF THE ABUJA DIGITAL SWITCH OVER (DSO), Buhari's Remarks

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE ABUJA DIGITAL SWITCH OVER (DSO) ON THURSDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2016

PROTOCOL


I am very pleased to be here with you on this historic day, the launch of the Abuja Digital Switch Over in television broadcasting.

The significance of this event cannot be lost on the world as the digital switchover becomes a reality in the capital city of Africa's largest economy and most populous nation.

Even if only for the the huge local and international opportunities for Broadcast, media, ICT, entertainment and education , we are right to say that we stand at the threshold of exciting times for job creation, entertainment and in general local and international commerce.

The successful launch of the pilot scheme in Jos in April has clearly demonstrated the gains of Digital Switchover. I am told that Viewers in the pilot are able to enjoy 15 free channels covering news, sports, music and business.
Local industry is already experiencing a boost from the new vista in digital economy, with several indigenous companies now manufacturing Set-Top-Boxes. Indeed I am told that many of the set-top-boxes we are using for this Abuja switchover are produced in Nigeria.

Speaker Dogara tasks Chinese firms on diligent execution of contracts

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has tasked Chinese firms to ensure diligent execution of projects according to contracts agreements and specifications.

Dogara made the call when the Vice President, Public Relations and Government Affairs of Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited, Wakie Wu, called on him in his office in Abuja on Thursday.

“One thing that we have to take home from this brief interaction is that it is always important that whatever agreement we have, whatever contracts, whatever partnership that we are having, produces value–something that we can put on the table.

WE ARE NOW IN THE ERA OF GETTING THINGS DONE – VP OSINBAJO

Nigerians have never lacked ideas, but the time has come for the nation to transform brilliant ideas into reality by diligently following-up on plans and coming together to achieve objectives.


This view was expressed today by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, while receiving at the Presidential Villa, a delegation of Nigerian CEOs who attended the Indian Manufacturing Conclave - an industrial conference- last month in New Delhi.

"Almost all of us are certain about what the country needs to do but the critical problem is the capacity to get things done. What is important is what we do with all the ideas,” according to the Vice President.

Full Text of President Jonathan’s 2014 Democracy Day broadcast speech

Fellow Nigerians, I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country. 

Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” 

Although I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there can be no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us, as a people. 

As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression. 

As a result of our collective efforts since 1999, democratic governance is now entrenched in our nation and institutions. I wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it. The scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over the past 15 years has been expanded beyond measure.